Harvard vs. Bard College

Should I go to Harvard University or Bard College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Harvard or Bard College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Harvard University vs. Bard College comparison
Harvard University Bard College College 3 College 4
Harvard University Bard College
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Overview

Harvard Bard College
Location Cambridge, MA Annandale-On-Hudson, NY
Setting Midsize City Town Fringe
Enrollment 30,386 2,922
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #4 #180
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website harvard.edu bard.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Harvard Bard College
Tuition (In State) $54,269 $62,790
Tuition (Out of State) $54,269 $62,790
Room & Board $20,374 $18,040
Avg Net Price $17,900 $25,218
Avg Grant Aid $64,942 $56,380
% Receiving Grant Aid 57% 77%

Admission

Harvard Bard College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 56,937 6,628
Admitted 1,965 3,466
Acceptance Rate 3.5% 52.3%
Enrolled % 83.7% 11.6%
Avg High School GPA 4.0 -
Typical High School Grades A/A+ -
Admissions Standards Elite Very High
Applicant Competition Extreme Low
ACT Range 34/36 30/32
SAT Range 1500/1580 1290/1440
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026 Jan 1, 2026

Academics

Harvard Bard College
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (32%)
  • Biology (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
  • History (9%)
  • Mathematics (6%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (32%)
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (23%)
  • English and Literature (14%)
  • General Studies (7%)

Outcomes

Harvard Bard College
Graduation Rate 97% 76%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $136,700 $41,600
Making Student Loan Payments 70% 81%
Median Student Loan Debt $6,500 $26,194
Median Loan Payment $67 $270

Diversity

Harvard Bard College
% Men 32% 6%
% Women 38% 10%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 44% 63%
% Black 6% 8%
% Hispanic 10% 1%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 0%
% International 11% 10%
% Unknown Race 3% 11%

Students

Harvard Bard College
% In-State 15% 31%
% Out-of-State 70% 59%

Campus

Harvard Bard College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Harvard University is larger than than Bard College based on total student enrollment (30,386 students vs. 2,922 students)

Harvard vs. Bard College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Bard College?

  • Bard College is 15.7% more expensive to attend than Harvard for in-state tuition ($62,790.00 vs. $54,269.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15.7% higher at Bard College than Harvard University ($62,790.00 vs. $54,269.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Bard College ($17,900 vs. $25,218)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College are 12.9% lower than costs at Harvard University ($18,040 vs. $20,374)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Bard College than Harvard University (77% vs. 57%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 15.2% larger than aid received Bard College ($64,942 vs. $56,380)

Harvard vs. Bard College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Bard College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Bard College or Harvard .

  • Bard College has a higher acceptance rate (52.3%) than Harvard (3.5%)

Harvard vs. Bard College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Harvard or Bard College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Bard College and Harvard.

  • The graduation rate at Harvard is higher than Bard College (97% vs. 76%)
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn on average $95,100 more per year than Bard College graduates after ten years. ($136,700 vs. $41,600)
  • Harvard University students graduate with a $19,694 lower median federal student loan debt than Bard College graduates. ($6,500 vs. $26,194)
  • Harvard graduates are paying $203 less per month on federal student loans than Bard College graduates. ($67 vs. $270)
  • More Bard College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/